Can Teicoplanin Be an Effective Choice for Antibiotic-Impregnated Cement Spacer in Two-Stage Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty?

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty using a teicoplanin-impregnated cement spacer for infected primary total knee replacements. Twenty-five patients operated between 2005 and 2012 were included in this study. At the clinical status analysis, rate of infection eradication was assessed, physical examination was performed, Knee Society Score (KSS) was noted, isolated microorganisms were recorded, and the radiographic evaluation was performed. The mean KSS improved from 40 (range, 25-69) preoperatively to 77 (range, 32-96) at the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated in 9 of 25 patients as the most frequently isolated pathogen, and the other isolated pathogens were methicillin-susceptible S. epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Infection was successfully eradicated in 24 of 25 patients. Two-stage revision of the infected primary knee replacement is a time-consuming but a reliable procedure with high rates of success. Teicoplanin was found to be an effective choice for antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer applied for the eradication of the infection.